As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. bishops consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 2026, Catholics are invited to rediscover one of the Church’s most beloved devotions and renew their commitment to making Christ the Lord and King of their homes, parishes, and communities.
In A Heart on Fire, Fr. James Kubicki, SJ, traces the history and development of devotion to the Sacred Heart, uncovering its rich theological and spiritual foundations and showing how believers encounter the Heart of Jesus in one another, in scripture, in the sacraments, and especially in the Eucharist.
Drawing on the writings of the saints and theologians, Kubicki highlights five themes that laid the foundation for the devotion:
- The wounds of Jesus
- Living water flowing from Christ’s side
- St. John reclining at the Last Supper
- Jesus as the divine Bridegroom
- Consoling the Heart of Christ
These themes emerge throughout the Church’s tradition in the witness of the Franciscans, Dominicans, and great mystics, culminating in the revelations received by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and later echoed in the spirituality of St. Faustina Kowalska. In 1856, Pope Pius IX extended the feast of the Sacred Heart to the universal Church, firmly establishing the devotion in the Church’s liturgical life.
Kubicki brings to life the rich imagery and traditions associated with the Sacred Heart while offering fresh insight into beloved practices, including:
- the Twelve Promises
- family consecration and enthronement
- the Sacred Heart Badge
- the Litany of the Sacred Heart
- holy hours
- devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Rich in history, theology, and practical spirituality, A Heart on Fire invites Catholics to renew their devotion to the Sacred Heart and to pray for our nation, families, neighbors, and especially the poor and marginalized, so that all may come to know and love God and experience the transforming power of Christ’s merciful love through the charity of his people.
Fr. James Kubicki, SJ, serves as a spiritual director at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He is a popular conference and parish mission speaker, retreat director, and the author of A Heart on Fire and A Year of Daily Offerings.
Kubicki previously served as the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer (now the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network) and as the president of St. Francis Mission on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation. Kubicki entered the Society of Jesus in 1971 and was ordained in 1983. He has served the Jesuits in numerous capacities including, vocations, priestly formation, and deacon and lay ministry formation.
The
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is an international ecclesial ministry served by the Jesuits that reaches more than 50 million participants worldwide through its popular website, talks, conferences, radio outreach, publications, and retreats. Each year the Holy Father asks that Christian and non-Christian alike join in praying for his particular intentions on the challenges facing humanity. The regional US-Canadian office can be found at popesprayerusa.net and popesprayercanada.net.
